Navy to study possible link between beached whales and sonar

Seven whales that beached themselves in the Bahamas might have been affected by powerful sonar from Navy ships

July 28, 2000
Web posted at: 3:25 PM EDT (1925 GMT)

(CNN) -- Important clues have surfaced that may help prove a suspected link between beached whales and powerful sonar equipment used by the U.S. Navy and other nations around the world.

Scientists discovered the clues earlier this year in March, when seven whales were found dead on a Bahamas beach, near the time and location of a U.S. Navy sonar operation.

"We did have an operational exercise going on using ships with operational sonars," said Robert Pirie, assistant secretary, U.S. Navy. "...and that was closely correlated with the ... strandings and that's the source of our concern."

VIDEO

Correspondent David George reports on research into the cause of whale beachings